Growing doll



J-l. COOKE GROWING DOLL Filed April 15, 1953 April 23, 1957 INVENTORCoo/ ATTORNEYS United States y Patent() GROWING DOLL Helen Cooke,Arlington, Va.

Application April 1S, 1953, Serial No. 349,055

Claims. (Cl. 4690) This invention relates in general to toys, such asdolls or the like, but .as will appear more particularly hereinafter,the invention has other namicat-ions than use for toys.

Specifically, the invention pertains to articles such as a doll orsimilar toy which will increase in size over a period of time. Thus, ifconsidered with respect to a doll, the invention relates to a growingdoll. Today the nations shops contain numerous varieties and kinds oftoys land dolls such as toy dogs, toy bunnies, toy bears. Many of thesetoys can walk, talk, and accomplish other attributes of the animal theyrepresent. The present invention, however, comprehends an advance oversuch art which so far as known has not heretofore been possible; the rstobject of the invention is the provision of a toy which will grow, tlratis, increase in size, over a length of time.

Of consideration in producing a doll of this type for the commercialmarket, is the need for obtaining a desired degree of growth and formaintaining the rate at which the doll or similar object grows. It isaccordingly a further object of this invention to provide a means forIadjusting the rate of growth of the toy.

It is also one of the objects of the invention to provide a toy having aself-contained supply of a medium for electuating growth, and a meansfor initiating the release of such medium at a desired time. Such a toyis illus trated in one of the modifications of the invention describedbelow comprising ea container supported within a doll, and a deviceattached to the surface of the doll body which can be moved to puncturethe container to effect release of the medium.

Another object of the invention is to provide as an alternative, a toyin which the growth will be a function of and bear relation to the.amount of manipulation or handling of the toy.

Some alternative modifications may include pumps or similar devicessituated within the body of the toy, and operable under movement of thetoy to pump a suitable growth inducing medium into the interior of thetoy.

These and other objects `and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is an elevational view partly in section showing a doll and atank containing a pressurized medium mounted therein.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a support forming part of myinvention.

Figure 5 is a view of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a view of yet another modified form of the invention.

Similar reference characters represent similar parts in the severalfigures.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, lreference character 10generally indicates a doll. The doll is formed of a exible materialwhich is substantially imrice pervious to air and similar gases ormixtures thereof and may be of elastic material. The doll comprises ahead 11, trunk 12, legs 13 and arms which are not shown. It is preferredto have the entire interior of these members in communication with eachother, and to have all the members form a closed Ihollow interior.

As 'illustrated in Fig. 2, there is provided 'a supporting member 18which comprises a curved rear flange 20, a laterally extending upperilange 22 attached at one side to the rear flange 20, and -a similarbottom iiange 24. Both flanges 22 and 24 have a generally circularshaped opening 26. The upper liange 22 in addition has a further opening28 extending therethrough and communicating with opening 26. Fl-anges 22and 24 support and are connected to a vertically extending curved liange30.

The above described elements may be formed of a plastic material or ametallic material. Flange 20 is curved complementary to rear Wall 32,'and is fastened thereto by fusion of the two elements together, byrivets or other suitable means.

Flanges 2 2 and 24 support a cylindrically shaped tank or container 34.Container 34 has a side member 36 and end members 38 and 40, althoughobviously the construction of the tank might be varied considerably. The

' tank may be formed of metal, plastic or other suitable material. Thetank is dimensioned so as to have a force.- tit connection with lianges22, 24 and 30. Of course, the tank may be fused or otherwise secured tothe flanges, if desired, and other means of support provided.

One side of the tank is pierced so `as to form an aperture 42. Theaperture 42 is covered by .a circular shaped piece of rubber or plasticor similar material 44. Element 44 is considered to be a cover, and isfastened to the tank by lan adhesive or by fusion. A metal or plasticprotective cover 46 having a circular shaped flange 48, is fastened totank 34 and receives sealing element 44 so as to support the same andmaintain a seal contact between sealing element 44 :and tank 34. Thedepth of ange 48 is less than the thickness of the cover 44 and thuscover 46 faces the sealing element against the tank.

Protective cover 46 is provided with a central aperture 50 illustratedin Fig. 3. Aperture 50 forms the apex of a conical opening 52 and is inalinement with aperture 42 of tank 34. f

Flange 2G) is provided with a circular opening S4 which extendssubstantially the distance between flanges 22 and 24. Thus rear wall 32of the toy can liex inwardly within opening 54. Attached to the rearwall there is a puncturing device comprising a flange 56 aixed to theouter side of the toy, ia flange 58 attached to the inner side, a pin 59extending through wall 32 and secured to flange 56 at 60, and fastenedto flange 58 by collar 62. The pin is sharpened to a point, as indicatedat 64 and lies in alinement with opening 50. It will be seen that bypressing flange 56 inwardly toward the front of the doll, pin 54 willenter opening 50 'and pierce sealing element 44. When the flange 56 isreleased the pin will spring back and fluid, such as compressed air,maintained in tank 34, can then escape outwardly into the doll throughopening 28 in liange 22. A hermetic connection is provided between pin59 and yits associated mounting elements. Opening 28, incidentally,provides for inserting cover 46 through iiange 22 when .assemblingcontainer 34 and lianges 22 and 24.

By variation of the size of opening Si) and the size of pin 59, the sizeof the opening formed by puncturing sealing element 44 can be varied.Thus, the length or" time required for a given quantity of fluid toescape from tank 34 can be varied. By employing suitable quantities ofair or other gases, and suitable pressure,

in cover 46, and pin 59, a desirable rate of growth of the toy can beachieved. It is seen that with the device of Fig. l the doll remains ofminimum size until the sealing member is punctured. The period of growthcan be initiated when desired.

it should be noted that when the sealing element 42 is pierced, the uidwill emerge and flow to all portions ot the toy. Thus, the doll willincrease in size in all portions. rl`he arms, legs, head and trunk willenlarge proportionately to retain the general size relationship betweenthe parts. A screen or lter such as a padding of pervious material canbe placed on the interior of the tank in line with aperture 42 to retardthe ow of iiuid from the tank.

The modiiied form illustrated in Fig. 5 comprises a cylindrical element70 mounted within flanges 72, '74 and wall '76 in a manner similar tothat in which cylinder 34 is mounted. ln this case however, thecylindrical element is provided with two end caps 78 and 8d. Each of theend caps comprises a boss S2, a spring seat Sd, a central bore 86 and asleeve having threads 88 which cooperate with corresponding threads onthe cylindrical element 70.

A piston rod 90 is slidingly received in bore S6. At one end the pistonrod has attached thereto or formed thereon, a weight 92. At its oppositeend the piston rod is provided with a piston 94. Compression spring 96seats on the bottom of piston 94 and on spring seat S4 so as to urgepiston 94 inwardly of cylinder 74). Stops such as a circular ring 9S,limit the inward movement of piston 94. The stops may be of a resilientmaterial, such as rubber, and fastened to the walls of cylinder 70 bysuitable flanges or -other means, not shown. The two pistons 94therefore do not come in Contact with each other.

A chamber 100 is provided intermediate the two pistons by virtue of theabove described structure. The chamber is provided with inlet and outletvalves 102 and 103. Each of these valves comprises a casing 104, a seat106, a valve 108 having cooperating engagement with the seat and stemlltI connected to the valve, which stem is loosely received in apassageway 112, a projecting pin 114 mounted in stem 110 and acompression spring 116. Compression spring 116 is seated on casing 104,and is in contact with pin 114 so as to urge valve 103 to closedposition on valve seat 106. The valves are each provided with flanges117 adapted to seat on cylindrical member '7d and to be secured theretoby soldering, fusion or other suitable means.

A suitable opening is provided in flanges "i2 for connecting valve 164after cylinder 70 is in position. The rear valve 1%"114 extends throughan opening 113 in the rear of the dell and can be fastened thereto byuse of flanges, heat or other methods. It should be noted that casing118 could also be threadingly engaged with cylinder 7b.

ln the modication shown in Fig. 5, the weights 92 will move in such amanner as to cause movement of pistons 9d outwardly of a cylinder '70whenever the dolls motion in a direction substantially parallel to theaxis of shafts 96 is suddenly arrested. For example, should the doll ortoy be placed on the oor with `the usual abruptness of a child, thelower weight 92 will move downwardly, overcoming the spring 96 due tothe inertia of weight 92. As soon as the weight 92 reaches its outermostpoint, piston 94 will return to its normal and neutral position, asshown in Fig. 5, by virtue of the stored energy of spring 96.

Gn the outward movement of piston 94 the rear valve 108 will unseat,because of the reduction in pressure in chamber Miti, and admitatmospheric air into the cylinder 70. Upon the return movement of piston94 the inner valve 10S will open outwardly of chamber 100 and permit thepassage ofair into the interior of the toy, whereas the outer valve 100will bev seated.

Thus, the doll or toy will begin to grow as soon as the child starts toplay with it. The growth will continue until the pump springs 96 can nolonger force air into the interior of the doll.

The modilied form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6 comprises acylindrical element 120 which forms a pump cylinder, a piston 122, acoil spring 12d and ange supporting means 126 constructed similar to thesupporting means described hereinbefore.

At its upper end the piston is provided with a laterally extendingconduit 128 having a flange 130 adapted to cooperate with wall 132 of atoy. A anged element 134 is threadingly engaged with conduit 128 so asto receive the material 132 between lianges 13d and 136.

A ap valve 133 of a commonly known construction can be provided inflange cover 134. A similar flap valve 146 is provided at the upper endof chamber 142 formed in a cylinder 126. Flap valve 13S is constructedto admit air into chamber ftd-2 and flap valve 14%) is constructed topermit air to ow outwardly of chamber' 142 into the interior of the toy.Valve 149 normally closes the outlet passageway through which air movesfrom chamber 142 into the interior of the toy.

Cable 1M is connected to piston 122 and extends downwardly through anopening 146 in the bottom of cylinder 126. Cable 144 extends through aguide 148 mounted on the interior of the toy and down to an anchor 1550also mounted on the interior of the doll. Guide 146 is positioned atapproximately the buttocks of a doll, as illustrated.

Anchor 150 is positioned at approximately the knee and the piston 122normally positioned approximately at the chest. It is seen that when thedoll or similar toy is liexed at approximately the point of the guide148, would occur when the doll would be seated, piston 122 will be drawndownwardly in its cylinder. When the doll is again raised and the legsextended, the piston will move upwardly in the cylinder under theinfluence of spring 124. Thus, air will be brought from the amosphereinto the interior of the doll as the doll is handled by a child.

Various details such as the supporting lianges, valves, etc. are merelyillustrative of the invention. Obviously there are many different waysof accomplishing the results obtained by applicant, all of which arewithin the scope of the invention. It is pointed out that elements 34,70 and 120 are all tanks or containers for pressurized iluid.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, itwill be. understood that variations in details of form may be madewithout departure from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

l claim:

1. A toy comprising a hollow flexible body substantially imperviousA toair, a container for pressurized air supported in said body and havingan outlet opening for the passage of air from said container to saidbody, said container having means providing an inlet opening for theentrance ofi air into said container, said inlet opening being extendedto the exterior of said body, said container including a piston mountedtherein, and means for moving said piston within said container to pumpair from the exterior ofl the body to the interior thereof.

2. A toy comprising a hollow flexible body substan- `t-iallyirriperviousto air, a container' for pressurized air supported on the interior wallthereof.l said container having means providing an inlet openingconnected to the exterior of said toy and a valve means mounted in saidopening and operable to open for the passage of air into said container,said container having a second opening for passage of air from saidcontainer to the interior of said toy, a second valve in said secondopening operable to open for the passage of air from said container tothe interior of the toy, a piston mountedA in said container, a springsupported on said container and urging said piston inwardly of saidcylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston, a weight connected tosaid piston rod and operable through influence of kinetic energyacquired by said weight upon movement of said toy to cause movement ofsaid piston within said container to compress said spring to pump airfrom 'the exterior of said toy into said container, said spring beingoperable to absorb said energy during said movement of said piston andto move said piston to pump air from said container into the interior ofsaid toy when said energy is absorbed by said spring.

3. A toy comprising a hollow flexible body substantially pervious toair, a container for pressurized air supported Within said body havingan inlet opening connected to the exterior of said body and normallyclosed by a valve, said container having an outlet opening for thepassage of air from said container to said body connected to theinterior of said body normally closed by a second valve, a pistonmounted Within said container, means urging lsaid piston inwardly ofsaid container, a piston rod connected to said piston, a weightconnected to said piston rod, a second piston mounted in said containerhaving means urging said piston inwardly of said container, a secondpiston rod and a second weight connected to said second piston, saidweights being capable of causing movement of said pistons outwardly ofsaid container upon movement of said toy in directions longitudinally ofsaid piston rods accompanied with a sudden arresting of such movement,said valves being operable upon reciprocating movement of said pistons,said pistons being operable through influence of kinetic energy appliedto said weights to pump air from the exterior of said toy into saidcontainer, both means urging the piston inwardly of the container beingoperable to absorb kinetic energy from said weights during movement oftheir associated pistons, and to move their associated pistons to pumpair from said containers into the interior of said toy when kineticenergy is absorbed by said means urging the pistons.

4. A toy comprising a hollow impervious flexible body, a containermounted within said body, said container having means forming a conduitconnecting said container to the exterior of the body and normallyclosed by a valve operable to admit air into said container, an outletopening connecting the interior of said container to the interior ofsaid toy normally closed by a valve operable to admit air from saidcontainer into the interior of said toy, a piston mounted in saidcontainer, and means urging said piston inwardly of said container, saidbody comprising a main portion and a portion movably connected to saidmain portion, an element connecting said piston to the second memtionedportion, said element extending through a guide secured to said toy at apoint generally intermediate said two portions, said piston beingmovable within said container upon movement of the trst mentionedportion with respect to the second mentioned portion to cause entranceof air into the container and into the interior of said toy.

5. A 4toy comprising a hollow flexible body substantially impervious toair, a container for pressurized air supported in said body and havingan outlet opening for the passage of air from said container to saidbody, said container having means providing an inlet opening for theentrance of air into said container, said inlet opening being extendedto the exterior of said body, said container including a piston mountedtherein, and means for moving said piston within said container to pumpair from the exterior of the body to the interior thereof comprising aresilient means normally urging said piston lin one direction, and aweight connected to said piston, said Weight being operable uponmovement of said toy to move said piston in a direction opposite thedirection in which said means for urging said piston urges said pistonunder the inuence of kinetic energy acquired by said weight throughmovement of said toy.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,512,492 Segeberg Oct. 21, 1924 2,083,431 Cole June 8, 1937 2,373,529Beal Apr. l0, 1945 2,487,546 Harrowe Nov. 8, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS714,151 Great Britain Feb. 8, 19,52

